US2319107A - Circuit controller - Google Patents

Description

May 11, 1943. H, BRANDT CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed May 17, 1941 Patented May 1l, 1943 UNITES TTE Maid? TEEN OFFICE d Claims.

This invention relates to an improved circuit controller for use in opening and closing electrical circuits.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved circuit controller which is sensitive in operation and will serve to instantaneously open or close a circuit upon the movement of a member. In this connection it is desirable in certain instances to provide a circuit controller which will operate upon the rotation of a shaft or upon the reciprocation or other movement oi a member, and which will continue in operation so long as the movement continues.

In my present invention I contemplate the provision of a circuit controller which is brought into operation to open or close a circuit upon the rotation, reciprocation or other movement of a member, and which will` continue to, operate s long as the movement. or the member continues.

A further object. is the provision ci an improved circuit controller or the above character having means for causing a slight delay or time lag in its operation.

Another object is the provision of improved circuit controller which will operate in response to rotary movement or reciprooation iny any direction.

This application is acontinuation in part of my (so-pending patent application, Serial No. 363,899, led on November l', 1940'.

Referring more speciiically to the drawingn Fig. 1 isa longitudinal sectional view of a circuit controller embodying invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view in the direction 0i the arrows on thev line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a portion of the oircuit controller showing a modied type oi co tact arm and vane provided with means for causing a time lag in the operationl oi the device;

Fig. e is longitudinal sectional view of a modified type of circuit controller embodying my invention and which wil-l operate in response to reciprooatory or rotary movement in any direction.;

Fig. 5 isa cross-sectional view in the direction of. the arrows onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig'. 6 is a detail sectional View in the direction of the arrows on the'line 6 8 et Fig. 5.

Referring more specifically to the form of my inve troller is provided with a suitable casing consisting of two complementary cup-like members ID and I I, which are threaded together in the manner shown. Projecting upwardly and downwardly respectively from the center of the casing mem- `;ion shown in Figs. l and' 2, the circuit con- L bers I d and Il, are the tubular studs I2, which are in registry with each other and are externally threaded so as to receive the couplings I3, which serve to hold the collars I4 in position.

The collars are provided with internal ianges I S which engage with ribs I5, formed on the tubular rotatable stub shafts I'I, thereby erving to hold the shafts in position. The stub shafts Il are provided with splined connections in the manner shown, with the two ends of the tubular shaft I8 which extends longitudinally of the switch through the central portion thereof, and may rotate with respect thereto.

Mounted adjacent the central portion of shaft I 8 is a collar of insulating material IE-l which supports a ring of conducting material 2i). Pivotally mounted on the ring 29 of conducting material, are a pair of vanes 2l which project outwardly from the ring and are normally held in radial position and in engagement with stops 22 by means of springs 23. The vanes may pivot against the tension of the springs in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig, 2. Projecting inwardly from each of the vanes is a contact arm 24 which -is normally in spaced relationship with respect to a contact strip 25 disposed around and rotatable with respect to the tubular collar 26, formed on the inside of the casing and which serves as a seat for the rotating portions of the switch. When the vanes 2l are pivoted against the tension of their respective springs, it will be seen that the Contact arms 24 engage the Contact strip 25. Contact strip 25 is connected to and rotates with shaft i3. The contacts 24 are preferably pointed so as to ensure positive Contact with the strip 25.

The insulating collar I3 is formed with a depending apron which overlapsv the contact strip 25 in the manner shown, so as to completely insulate the ring 20 from the shaft. Suitable washers and packingY are provided in the switch in the manner shown, and I also preferably provide a spring 21 which extends between the casing member il and the insulating collar i9 so as to retain the several parts in the positions shown in the drawn that the circuit controller may be connected into an electrical circuit, I preferably provide the casing with a suitable terminal 38, which is connected by means oi a spring contact strip 2Q to ring 2o. rTerminal 23 and contact strip 23 are suitably insulated from the casing of the switch as indicated at 3E. The shaft it or the casing of the circuit controller may be sultabiy grounded and the terminal 28 may be connected to the positive side of the circuit.

When the vanes 2| are in the radial position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the circuit is open. However, when the vanes are pivoted against the tension of their springs so that their contact arms 24 engage the contact strips 25, the circuit is completed, through the terminal 28, contact strip 29, ring 29, contact arms 24, contact strip 25, and thence to shaft I8 and the casing, one of which is grounded.

In order to cause the operation of the circuit controller when the shaft is rotated, I ll the casing with a dielectric fluid medium preferably a liquid such as, for instance, petroleum oil. The fluid may be introduced into the casing through a suitable opening 3|, provided with a movable closure 32. When the shaft I8 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, the resistance offered by the oil or other iluid medium causes the vanes 2| to pivot against the tension of their springs, and to close the circuit between contact arms 24 and contact strip 25.

Upon cessation of rotation of the shaft, the springs 23 cause the vanes 2| to return to their normal position and the circuit is opened. In this connection, the springs should be of sufficient strength to return the vanes to their normal position against the resistance offered by the uid and at the same time they should be sufciently sensitive so that even a slight movement of the shaft will cause the vanes to pivot so as to close the circuit. Sincethe shaft I8 offers very little resistance tov rotation, it will be appreciated that substantially no energy is required to operate the switch.

The shaft I8 may be operated by any suitable means, In the accompanying drawing it isillustrated as operatively connected to a speedometer cable 33 of a motor vehicle. It will be appreciated that whenever the motor vehicle is in motion, the speedometer cable will rotate, and will cause the instantaneous operation of the circuit controller to close the circuit. TheV circuit controller in turn may be used for any desired Vpurpose such as controlling an automatically operating door lock for locking the doors of a car while it is in motion.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a slight modification wherein the opening of the circuit after the shaft I8 ceases to rotate Vis delayed by a dash pot In this form of my invention the switch may be of similar construction with the exception that I provide a vane 2| which is connected by means of a link 35 to a piston rod 31, which in turn is connected to the piston 38. The piston is disposed in cylinder 39 which rotates with the shaft. vanes, and contact arms.

The head of cylinder 3S is formed with relatively small apertures as shown while the bottom is formed with larger apertures. The oil from the switch can enter into the cylinder and will cause it to operate as a dash pot. In this connection, the apertures in the head of the cylinder should be small enough to resist the movement of piston 38.

The head of the piston is provided with a plurality of relatively large apertures 49 which will permit the uid in the cylinder to flow freely through them so as not to obstruct or resist the piston when it is reclprocated. Disposed over the top of the piston is a valve 4| which is nor- Ymally held in contact with the top by means of a spring i2 extending between the valve and a lixed collar 43. The valve 4| is of smaller diameter than the piston and is provided with a plurality of relatively small apertures in registry with the large apertures 49 in the piston. The apertures in the valve are small enough to offer substantial resistance to the flow of the liquid through them.

The tension of spring 42 is relatively weak so that when the piston is shifted downwardly in the cylinder, the valve will move away from its seat permitting the dash pot uid to iiow freely through the larger apertures in the piston, However, when the piston moves upwardly, the valve will be forced against its seat and due to the restricted size of the apertures in the valve, the upward movement of the piston will be resisted.

Due to this construction it will be seen that when the shaft i8 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, the vane 2|' will immediately rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and the piston will shift downwardly in the cylinder without substantially affecting the movement of the vane. Accordingly the contact 211 will engage Contact strip 25 substantially instantaneously upon rotation of the shaft. However, when the shaft stops rotating and spring 23 attempts to return the vane to its normal position, the dash pot will resist the movement of the vane and will cause a slight time lag in the opening of the circuit. The amount of the time lag can be controlled by varying the size of the apertures in the valve 4 l In the orm of my invention shown in Fig. 3, the vane is held in its normal radial position by means of a modied form of stop indicated at d4, which engages against a pin 55.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6, I have shown a modied type of circuit controller which is operated by either rotary motion or by reciprocating motion in either direction. In this form of my invention I also provide a suitable casing which may consist of a cylindrical portion 45 closed at each end by means of caps il and 43, threaded thereto. The cylindrical portion may be formed of an outer shell 49 and an inner shell 59, both made of electrically conducting material and separated by a layer of insulating material 5|. Extending lengthwise of the casing through the center thereof and projecting outwardly from both ends, is a shaft 52 which may rotate and reciprocate or move axially in either direction with respect to the casing. The caps 41 and 48 are provided with integral threaded studs 53 through which the shaft extends, and attached to the ends of the studs are the collars 54 which serve to hold packing material 55 in position.

As in the first form of my invention the interior of the casing is filled with a suitable dielectric fluid. preferably a liquid such as petroleum oil, and this may be introduced to the interior of the casing through a suitable opening 56 provided with a cap 5l. Suitably keyed to the shaft in the interior of the casing is a sleeve 58 made of conducting material and provided with an integral flanged collar 59 adjacent one end thereof. Disposed around the sleeve, immediately adjacent the collar 59, is a channel ring 60 made of insulating material and which is preferably formed in two sections, as shown, so as to accommodate the annular support lill on which the contacts B2 and 64, and the vanes 63 and 55 are pivotally supported.

As in the first form of my invention, the vanes V63 and 65 are normally held in radial position in engagement with stops El by means of the springs 66. However, the vanes and stops are arranged in opposite relationship so that when the shaft 52 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction the vane S3 is caused to pivot, and when the shaft 52 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the vane 65 is caused to pivot. When the vanes are caused to pivot in this fashion, the respective contacts 62 and 84 are shifted into engagement with the collar 55. Thus it will be seen that when the shaft is rotated in either direction, the circuit controller will be operated.

In order to cause the operation of the controller, when the shaft is reciprocated, I provide another pair of contacts 68 and 1U, and vanes 69 and 1l, also pivotally connected to the annular support 6|. The pivotal supports for the contacts 62' and S4 are perpendicular to the shaft 52 whereas the pivotal supports for the contacts 68 and 10 are disposed at right angles thereto. The vanes 69 and 1l, and contacts 68 and 'IB are arranged in opposite relationship with respect to each other but both are normally held in horizontal position by means of springs l2 which press them against the stops T3.

When the shaft 52 is shifted upwardly as viewed in Fig. 6, the vane E9 and contact 68 are shifted downwardly into engagement with collar 55. When shaft 52' is shifted downwardly, vane 'H and contact 7i! pivot upwardly so that the contact engages the fixed contact member 74 which is also supported on sleeve 58.

The entire assembly of insulating ring Si), annular support Gl, and xed contact 14 are held in position on the sleeve by means of the collar 75, threaded to the end thereof. Since the sleeve is fixedly secured to the shaft 52, the entire assembly rotates with and reciprocates with the shaft.

The electrical circuit for the switch may be connected in any desired manner. One convenient arrangement is shown in the drawing and consists 0f the contact post 16, which is insulated 1 from the shell 49, as indicated at 11, but is electrically connected with the shell 50. Contact with the shell 5G is made by means of a pair of suitable electrodes or brushes, such as the carbon brushes 18 which are mounted in the sockets 'I9 formed on the annular support 6|. The brushes or electrodes are urged into engagement with the shell 5D by means of small springs in the manner shown. The outer shell 49 of the casing is electrically connected with the caps 4l and 48, and the shaft 52, which in turn is electrically connected with sleeve 58, collar 59, and contact element 14.

The terminal post 'I6 may be connected to the positive terminal of a battery and the outer shell or the caps of the casing or the shaft 52 may be suitably grounded. It will thus be seen that when the shaft is reciprocated or rotated in any direction, the circuit controller will operate to close the circuit, and the circuit will remain closed as long as the motion continues.

All portions of the casing and circuit controller in each form of my invention are made of conducting materials excepting those speciilcally referred to as being made of insulating material.

It should be understood, of course, that many modifications may be made in the illustrated and described embodiment of my invention without departing from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A circuit controller comprising a casing, a non-conducting fluid disposed in the casing, a shaft extending into the casing and mounted for both rotary and axial movement, contact means supported on said shaft and ilxed relative thereto, a rst shiftable contact supported by the shaft so as to be shiftable in one plane into and out of engagement with the contact means, a second shiftable contact supported by the shaft so as to be shiftable relative thereto into and out of engagement with the contact means through a plane disposed substantially at right angles to the plane in which the rst shiftable contact shifts, and fluid actuated means connected to the said flrst and second shiftable contacts so as to cause one of the contacts to shift when the shaft rotates and so as to cause the other contact to shift when the shaft moves axially.

2. A circuit controller comprising a casing, a non-electric conducting fluid substance within said casing, a rotary member extending axially through said casing, a circular Contact fixed to said member, a conductor ring fixed to said member and insulated therefrom, an electric terminal on said casing and insulated therefrom, a spring Contact connected with said terminal and contacting said ring, a pivoted contact carried by said ring and electrically connected therewith, means acting on said pivoted contact to yieldingly retain it is circuit opening position, a vane connected with said pivoted contact responsive to the inertia of said fluid substance upon rotation of said member to cause said contact to pivot into engagement with said circular contact to close a circuit.

3. A circuit controller including a casing, a non-electric conducting iluid substance within said casing, a member rotatable and also axially movable with respect to said casing, circuit closers operatively connected with said member, said circuit closers being responsive to the inertia of said fluid substance upon rotation of said member so that one will close a circuit when said member rotates in one direction and the other closes the circuit when said member rotates in the opposite direction, and an additional circuit closer operatively connected with said member which is responsive to the inertia of said fluid substance upon axial movement of said member to close a circuit.

4. A circuit controller comprising a casing, a non-electric conducting iluid substance within said casing, a shaft extending axially of said casing rotatable and also axially movable, two contacts each having a radial vane mounted on said shaft, each contact being movable between circuit opening and closing positions, the vane of one said contacts being responsive to the inertia of said fluid substance when the shaft rotates in one direction to close a circuit, and the vane of the other contact being responsive to the inertia of said fluid substance when the shaft rotates in the opposite direction to close the circuit, and an additional circuit closer operatively connected with said shaft responsive to the inertia of said fluid substance upon axial movement of the shaft to close a circuit.

HOWARD BRANDT.

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